Volunteers will spread a message of hope on behalf of the
American Cancer Society.
[view:node_ad=5]The “Fight Back Express” will stop in the Santa Clarita
Valley on Friday, September 5, carrying the mobile message that Americans have
the power to fight cancer in this country with their voices. Cancer patients,
survivors, caregivers and their families will gather at the Lexus Jazz and
Blues Concert series on Town Center Drive,
Friday September 5th, and the public is welcome to join.
Participants will share their experience with the disease
and promote their feelings that dramatic changes in this country’s approach to
cancer are needed.
“We can make this disease history,” said Nancy Coulter,
local American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteer. “We
know what we need to do to win the war on cancer. Now we need our elected officials to join us
and support laws and policies that will help fight a disease that will kill
approximately 55,550 people in California
this year alone.”
The ACS CAN is sponsoring the 6-month bus tour to highlight
the crucial role elected officials play in supporting laws and policies that
help people fight cancer. The ACS CAN Fight Back Express kicked off in Ohio
in early May and will travel across the 48 continental United
States through Election Day, Nov. 4.
“If one person can fight cancer, then a nation can rise up
and defeat it,” said Daniel E. Smith, president of ACS CAN, the sister advocacy
organization of the American Cancer Society.
“As an essential partner in the fight against cancer, government has a
critical role to play in enacting laws and policies that help people battle a
disease that will kill an estimated 565,650 people in America
this year.”
The group claims that scientific discovery alone will not
defeat cancer. The federal government is the largest individual source of
cancer research funding, but the group claims that years of budget freezes and
cuts are impeding progress.
At each Fight Back Express stop, visitors have the chance to
share their story with their members of Congress through the “Picture A Cure
program” and sign a petition to support access to health care for all
Americans.
According to the group, ACS CAN supports evidence-based
policy and legislative solutions for a number of cancer-related issues
including prevention/early detection and tobacco control.
To find out more about the ACS CAN Fight Back Express and their
mission to make cancer a national priority log on to www.acscan.org.